Veterans: How important is it to YOU that a President be a veteran?

[radcen]

Question for veterans (though anyone can reply and poll)

How important is it to YOU that a President be a veteran?

 

[Connery]

It is more important that the President understand the problems and pitfalls veterans face and address these concerns through the appropriate agencies in the form of funding, staffing etc. which will enable the veteran to readjust and flourish in society, have appropriate education and job skills.

 

[Thrilla]

not very important.. a solid "meh".

 

[Kandahar]

I'm not a veteran, but interestingly, it DOES seem to be the case that presidents with military experience do a better job than presidents without it. And this doesn't seem to be true for any other kind of experience (e.g. senatorial, gubernatorial, business). If you look at the various rankings of the presidents by historians and average them together, it's interesting that the veterans tend to be toward the top and the non-veterans tend to be toward the bottom.

Granted, we have a very small sample size (only 43 presidents) so maybe it's just a coincidence. But I think it is interesting.

 

[jamesrage]

Question for veterans (though anyone can reply and poll)

How important is it to YOU that a President be a veteran?

It helps but not really important.

 

[notquiteright]

meh, rather they understand Soldiers are worth more than a king's ransom to parents, than what danger close is for the 4 deuce.

 

[Morality Games]

I'm not a veteran, but interestingly, it DOES seem to be the case that presidents with military experience do a better job than presidents without it. And this doesn't seem to be true for any other kind of experience (e.g. senatorial, gubernatorial, business). If you look at the various rankings of the presidents by historians and average them together, it's interesting that the veterans tend to be toward the top and the non-veterans tend to be toward the bottom.

Granted, we have a very small sample size (only 43 presidents) so maybe it's just a coincidence. But I think it is interesting.

Military leaders are natural pragmatists as there isn't room for inflexible thinking when the lives of your men, and the safety of your community, are at stake. Combine with a disciplined tendency to take the well-being and future of the community seriously, as well as other favorable traits, and it isn't mysterious why veteran presidents have a high track record in terms of civic leadership.

 

[cpwill]

Heinlein had this one figured out. People who have already demonstrated a willingness to sacrifice themselves for the good of others make better leaders.

 

[jamesrage]

If it came down to two people with the same exact views and past votes to back up those views then military service might play a part into me choosing that candidate. If that candidate was a supply clerk, chow hall cook, paper pusher or some other non-combat POG then I wouldn't change my vote because of that.

 

[Sarcogito]

When I first enlisted back in 1997 I would have said it was very important. 15 years into my career I have come to the conclusion it doesn’t make a damn bit of difference.

 

[DVSentinel]

I agree with Heinlein on the subject. Also, few veterans that ever risked their life, did so for selfish reasons. If they had died, they would of gained nothing for themselves only given to others. Therefore, they have demonstrated the ability to act selflessly. Combat veterans would be the best choices for Public office. The crucible of war in combat leaves little room for accommodating screwy ideals, reality and hard choices are the basis for their decision making process when developed under conditions of war. This kind of hard choice based on reality kind of decision making is exactly what this country needs at the moment, but it won't be getting it.

 

[DiAnna]

It's not important to me that the POTUS actually be a military veteran. It's extremely important to me that the POTUS respect military veterans, and give strong consideration and weight to the military experience available to him by the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The way our returning veterans from the longest-running war(s) in US history are treated by the VA is absolutely inexcusable. These men and women have voluntarily served their country, many incurring life-altering experiences and/or injuries to do their duty. There should be no limit to which the "grateful" American government should offer to make them whole, mentally and physically, for their service and their valor.

In other words, if you **** with our war veterans in congress, I will **** with congress in the voting booth.

 

[Wiggen]

I think it was more important after the Second World War, when most young men served in the military in some capacity because of the great struggle of that era. Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Bush - even Reagan in a movie star capacity - wore the uniform. Since the end of the draft and the fact that such a small percentage of our population now has a military background, it's probably less important.

However, I do think that those with military service certainly have a better understanding of the military.

 

[Rainman05]

Coming from an European country... no, I don't see why someone having a military background... or military experience, matters at all... or should matter at all.